Having a hyper dog is a dog problem with many possible causes and solutions. Many hyper dog problems stem from boredom and a lack of stimulation. So in order to address the dog problem, you have to assess the way you are interacting with your dog and the kind of activity your dog gets on a daily basis.
Here are some simple techniques you can try at home to work to calm your hyperactive dog.
Ignore the hyper dog behavior
Dogs seek attention from you. By paying attention to the hyper dog during outbursts, you’re reinforcing the very dog problem behavior that you’re trying to eliminate. The next time your dog is jumping or nipping at you in an overexcited way, give it a try — no touch, no talk, no eye contact — and see how you fare. You might be surprised how quickly the dog settles down. Remember to reward the good behavior as encouragement.
Go for a dog walk to redirect dog’s high energy
If your dog has a lot of built-up energy, a really vigorous dog walk is another excellent way to redirect it where YOU want it to go. Once you’ve burned that extra energy away, your dog should be pleasantly exhausted and too tuckered out to jump and nip. Without that frustration, he’ll find it much easier to relax.
Check your own energy
Your dog is your mirror. Any energy you project, he will reflect back. Are you in a calm assertive state of mind? Are you projecting a confident pack leader energy? Are you stressing out over an argument, or burdened with the worries of the workweek? Nervous or anxious moods can translate into nervous or anxious body language or tones of voice, and can affect the energy of your dog. So be the pack leader and stay in tune with your energy.
Introduce smart toys
A great way to exercise your dog mentally is through the use of interactive food toys. Toys like Kong’s allow you to load them up with your dogs favourite treat, keeping him occupied while he manipulates the toy to make it dispense his food. You can feed your dog his entire meal this way, or why not freeze his favourite treat in it. Your dog will have fun licking and chewing at it, and it helps to keep his mind occupied.
Obedience or Trick Training
Obedience training builds a common language between you and your dog. It’s another way to calm his nerves, as it teaches him how the world expects him to behave. Learning new skills is also a great way to exercise your dog’s brain.
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